AN: So yeah I took forever again, finals were KILLER. But here we go again. Another small, seemingly insignificant chapter. But I swear this is all going somewhere and everything will eventfully add up and make sense. In the mean time, thanks for reading and trusting in this drivel :)

Chapter 6: The First of Many Awful Christmases to Come

"Ready to hear more kids?" I asked when we finished lunch the next day.

"I don't know." James made a face, and Albus shrugged.

"Oh I do!" Lilly was chipper as ever, and eager. "I want to know what happened next."

"It's gotten pretty gross." James groaned. "I don't know if I want to hear this stuff about my parents."

"Oh grow up." Al rolled his eyes. "I think it's sort of interesting."

"We're leaving out the really good stuff," Ginny said. She raised her eyebrows to emphasize her euphemism of solicitous details. James grimaced.

We all went back to the sitting room, resuming the same positions from the day before.

…

So weeks later your mum was on a train to Hogwarts, and I had a new determination. Somewhere in my obsessive thoughts I actually had a good idea. I was going to get her back, but I was going to do it by waiting. As long as it took. If she wasn't ready after Hogwarts, I'd wait. If she needed until we were thirty, I would wait.

But I had to straighten myself up. I went back to work, and I worked hard. I was just in training then, but they let me do a lot of things regular trainees don't. I put my all into that work, and started to feel really good about it. Knowing you're making a difference is a very invigorating feeling.

Everyday I tried to stay happy and positive. But within I couldn't help but think that Ginny would never want me back again. Still, I had to try.

"There are plenty of other girls out there," Rowland, one of my auror friends, said one day over tea. I'd told him all about Ginny and my plans; he thought I was completely bonkers. "Especially for you, Mr. Famous. I'm sure plenty of witches are interested. Why are you so worked up over one?"

"Because she's the one," I said. I knew, even then.

Rowland just snorted and shook his head. "I was once your age and said that about girls that definitely weren't my wife."

"Well you were wrong, but I'm not." I shrugged.

"So you really believe you'll marry this girl?" He was skeptical.

"Absolutely." I always knew your mom was the only thing I doubted was myself. Could I be the one for her?

Rowland laughed. "If you actually marry this girl I will give you a hundred galleons."

"You're on." I agreed extending my hand to shake on it. He looked at my hand like it was a joke.

"And what happens when you marry someone else?"

"If that were to happen then I'd be the one paying you."

"Alright." He shook my hand.

I collected that money on our wedding day. I collected on a lot of bets that day; but that will come up later.

Not soon enough, it was Christmas. And that meant Ginny was coming home.

I didn't plan to push her, but I really wanted to get on terms where we could at least send owls to each other.

But Hermione was always ready to stop my advances. The day before she and Ginny were to arrive I got an urgent letter. It said, "Harry, Ginny isnotready. Don't try anything while she's there. Just leave her alone. I'm serious, she's not ready at all."

I reread the unwelcome letter over and over.

Millions of emotions rushed through me quickly. Anguish, irritation, sorrow, impatience, depression, confusion. I couldn't settle on just one.

Yes, I'd promised to wait for Ginny until the end of time, but I expected to at least be allowed to be her friend.

I didn't blame Ginny, I blamed myself. I blamed the world for screwing me over, once again.

I knew I couldn't do it, I couldn't see her and not do anything. So I sent Hermione a quick reply.

"Hermione, I appreciate you trying to help me, but I'd like for this Christmas to not be entirely awful. Didn't you say you were spending the holiday with your parents this year? Would you mind me staying with you instead? It'd really appreciate it."

…

"So I spent a quiet Christmas with Hermione at her parents' house."

"I'm glade you did," Ginny said. "I don't know how I would've dealt with you being there for Christmas. It was bad enough without you."

"Well, I had a miserable Christmas, either way. But perhaps this was better."

AN: I wont promise the next chapter can get up soon, but I'll try my best :)
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